What do you think?
Rate this book
Faking Under the Mistletoe
Olivia Langley is the human embodiment of Christmas cheer, and she has absolutely no problem spreading it around for all to hear.
Christmas sweaters? She has twenty. Christmas cookies? She’ll take three dozen. Christmas movies? Yeah, she’s seen them all.
So it’s no surprise when she’s put in charge of Loveridge & McGowan’s holiday festivities. Secret Santas? Yep. Ice skating? Of course. Holiday trivia? Duh. Christmas-themed bar crawl? That’s one big jingle bell hell yes.
Kissing her boss at a Christmas tree lighting in front of his ex-girlfriend? Well… it is the season of giving.
And Olivia does not come with a gift receipt. No exchanges. No returns. No refunds. All sales are final.
In an effort to ungrinch the grinchiest man she’s ever met, Olivia enlists herself, Santa’s Executive Helper, to scheme up a plan that includes sleigh rides, snow days, and one too many mistletoe kisses, which certainly gets Asher’s tinsel in a tangle.
She’s pretty sure that she sleighed this whole fake dating thing.
Well… until she realizes there’s nothing fake about her feelings for Asher.
But tangled tinsel, unsolicited Christmas trees, and pajama parties are suddenly the least of her worries. When a celebrity client’s predatory behavior goes public, Olivia quickly learns that presents wrapped up in the prettiest bows can still be hiding coal.
Christmas sweaters? She has twenty. Christmas cookies? She’ll take three dozen. Christmas movies? Yeah, she’s seen them all.
So it’s no surprise when she’s put in charge of Loveridge & McGowan’s holiday festivities. Secret Santas? Yep. Ice skating? Of course. Holiday trivia? Duh. Christmas-themed bar crawl? That’s one big jingle bell hell yes.
Kissing her boss at a Christmas tree lighting in front of his ex-girlfriend? Well… it is the season of giving.
And Olivia does not come with a gift receipt. No exchanges. No returns. No refunds. All sales are final.
In an effort to ungrinch the grinchiest man she’s ever met, Olivia enlists herself, Santa’s Executive Helper, to scheme up a plan that includes sleigh rides, snow days, and one too many mistletoe kisses, which certainly gets Asher’s tinsel in a tangle.
She’s pretty sure that she sleighed this whole fake dating thing.
Well… until she realizes there’s nothing fake about her feelings for Asher.
But tangled tinsel, unsolicited Christmas trees, and pajama parties are suddenly the least of her worries. When a celebrity client’s predatory behavior goes public, Olivia quickly learns that presents wrapped up in the prettiest bows can still be hiding coal.
328 pages, Paperback
First published November 8, 2019
458 people are currently reading
16852 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Shepherd
2 books349 followersAshley Shepherd lives just north of Boston where she is a full-time French toast bagel connoisseur. When she’s not procrastinating about writing, she enjoys reading anything with a happy ending, blasting the music of her youth (it was never a phase–it’s a lifestyle!), and going to as many Broadway musicals as her credit cards will allow. She is a Libra sun, a Cancer moon, and a Sagittarius rising, which she believes explains a lot about her personality.
Faking Under the Mistletoe is out on November 8th, 2019
Preorder now! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YL8L7MK
Follow me on instagram! https://www.instagram.com/ashleysheph...
Faking Under the Mistletoe is out on November 8th, 2019
Preorder now! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YL8L7MK
Follow me on instagram! https://www.instagram.com/ashleysheph...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,756 reviews
November 8, 2023
I was laughing my ass off for most of this book. There was so much banter between the two main characters and their dynamic as boss and intern was so funny.
CHECK TW.
This book also had me crying at the same time?!? Like SOBBING. I do wish there was a little more closure and maybe some more detail about a certain situation being taken care of but other than that I really had a good time reading this book
CHECK TW.
This book also had me crying at the same time?!? Like SOBBING. I do wish there was a little more closure and maybe some more detail about a certain situation being taken care of but other than that I really had a good time reading this book
December 12, 2022
I really loved this book! It's a work place romance plus fake dating plus grumpy sunshine plus it's a Christmas book!! I loved the characters and how much depth this book has!! It tackles a heavier topic which I really appreciated but still kept the tone light and festive.
January 5, 2021
My first Christmas book of the year and it was a fun one! Witty, snarky, Christmas...umm yes please! I finally met someone that likes Christmas more than me....Olivia...this girl knows how to do Christmas!
Olivia is a social media intern..she has a knack for organizing social events for the office and oh does she ever! I have never, ever spoken to my boss the way Olivia speaks to Asher but hey..I have never been in a rom-com. Asher and Olivia have a flirty, love-hate relationship that turns into a "fake" relationship to get back at Asher's ex-girlfriend. Awkward anyone? As they are trying to flaunt their fake relationship on their off time, they are trying to hide it during work hours. How is that working? Not well...not well at all.
We soon find out that Asher is a serious grinch and Olivia is not having that from her fake boyfriend. As Olivia put it "even the grinch had a dog!" OH Asher, you are in for it! Will she break him?! All the cute one liners and crazy antics had me laughing the whole way. This was a perfect, light hearted read to get me in the Christmas spirit.
Olivia is a social media intern..she has a knack for organizing social events for the office and oh does she ever! I have never, ever spoken to my boss the way Olivia speaks to Asher but hey..I have never been in a rom-com. Asher and Olivia have a flirty, love-hate relationship that turns into a "fake" relationship to get back at Asher's ex-girlfriend. Awkward anyone? As they are trying to flaunt their fake relationship on their off time, they are trying to hide it during work hours. How is that working? Not well...not well at all.
We soon find out that Asher is a serious grinch and Olivia is not having that from her fake boyfriend. As Olivia put it "even the grinch had a dog!" OH Asher, you are in for it! Will she break him?! All the cute one liners and crazy antics had me laughing the whole way. This was a perfect, light hearted read to get me in the Christmas spirit.
December 28, 2020
A cute and sexy, feel good, festive romcom!
Olivia the Queen of Christmas, starts fake dating her grumpy boss Asher, to make his ex girlfriend jealous, except that backfires big time in several ways!
I absolutely inhaled this Christmassy book, and it's obvious why, when it has:
🎄Fake dating,
🎄A slow burn office romance,
🎄A grumpy love interest with a secret heart of gold,
🎄Christmas overload
It took me a minute to warm up to Olivia, but then she snuck into my heart, and I ended up loving that strong, kind, big hearted sweetheart! Olivia was pretty weird, but I loved her humour and positive outlook on life! I also adored Asher, the Grinch, whose weakness was his adorable niece Chloe! Olivia seriously loved Christmas by the way, and I was totally here for it! I'm talking about secret Santa, ice-skating, mint hot chocolate, ugly Christmas jumpers, cheesy films etc And what better city to spend it in, than NYC?! The setting was fabulous, and I think that Ashley Shepherd has written a wonderful romcom for the festive season!
There was some amazing, strong females in this book, and some of the friendships were great! I loved Joey, Francesca and Ana.
What I really loved though was the flirting and banter between Olivia and Asher! The first half of the book had me smiling and laughing, and I stayed up really late reading! There was wit, angst, and sizzling chemistry, which had me swooning! The first half was a definite 5 star read for me! The second half dealt with some darker issues like grief, loneliness and sexual harassment. There was also a trigger warning at the start for the mentioning of sexual assault. I definitely wasn't expecting the book to delve into those kinds of topics, but I liked the way that the author handled the issues of sexual harassment and assault.
Overall, I really enjoyed this cosy, festive read, it was seriously addictive, and put a smile on my face! I became far to attached to the characters, and need to know how they're all doing now! Does Asher still eat a double toasted cinnamon bagel with cream cheese? Is Olivia still stealing his expensive chocolate and buying him weird things? How are Chloe, Joey and Francesca doing?! Obviously, I am excited that Bree, one of Olivia's fellow interns, is getting a book, because there was a lot going on there, and also so that I can hopefully check up on all the other characters!
I definitely recommend Faking Under the Mistletoe if youre still in the mood for a fun romantic comedy for the holiday season 🎄🎄🎄🎄
Olivia the Queen of Christmas, starts fake dating her grumpy boss Asher, to make his ex girlfriend jealous, except that backfires big time in several ways!
I absolutely inhaled this Christmassy book, and it's obvious why, when it has:
🎄Fake dating,
🎄A slow burn office romance,
🎄A grumpy love interest with a secret heart of gold,
🎄Christmas overload
It took me a minute to warm up to Olivia, but then she snuck into my heart, and I ended up loving that strong, kind, big hearted sweetheart! Olivia was pretty weird, but I loved her humour and positive outlook on life! I also adored Asher, the Grinch, whose weakness was his adorable niece Chloe! Olivia seriously loved Christmas by the way, and I was totally here for it! I'm talking about secret Santa, ice-skating, mint hot chocolate, ugly Christmas jumpers, cheesy films etc And what better city to spend it in, than NYC?! The setting was fabulous, and I think that Ashley Shepherd has written a wonderful romcom for the festive season!
There was some amazing, strong females in this book, and some of the friendships were great! I loved Joey, Francesca and Ana.
What I really loved though was the flirting and banter between Olivia and Asher! The first half of the book had me smiling and laughing, and I stayed up really late reading! There was wit, angst, and sizzling chemistry, which had me swooning! The first half was a definite 5 star read for me! The second half dealt with some darker issues like grief, loneliness and sexual harassment. There was also a trigger warning at the start for the mentioning of sexual assault. I definitely wasn't expecting the book to delve into those kinds of topics, but I liked the way that the author handled the issues of sexual harassment and assault.
Overall, I really enjoyed this cosy, festive read, it was seriously addictive, and put a smile on my face! I became far to attached to the characters, and need to know how they're all doing now! Does Asher still eat a double toasted cinnamon bagel with cream cheese? Is Olivia still stealing his expensive chocolate and buying him weird things? How are Chloe, Joey and Francesca doing?! Obviously, I am excited that Bree, one of Olivia's fellow interns, is getting a book, because there was a lot going on there, and also so that I can hopefully check up on all the other characters!
I definitely recommend Faking Under the Mistletoe if youre still in the mood for a fun romantic comedy for the holiday season 🎄🎄🎄🎄
November 19, 2020
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ME TO YOU
10 CHRISTMAS ROMANCE NOVELS TO READ THIS YEAR
___________________________________
So this was a real gem of a book. A pleasant surprise in every way.
New author for me, and a word to mouth recommendation via IG. It was a delightful Christmas novel I didn't even know I needed until I read it. And of course some fantastic writing.
It ended up being a 5 star for the first half of the book, with funny and witty banter, an amazing couple, him grumpy, and her loving to push his buttons. I got major enemies to lovers vibes.
The second part of the novel was more like a 4 star for me. Some drama, a bit more serious undertones, and there were two situations I wasn't 100% in sync with. But otherwise this book was a HUGE success for me because I can't wait to read more by this author.
I think what I loved the most about this book was the fabulous writing. Especially the dialogues, and the heroine's snarky and witty attitude, and his grouchiness. He was such a Grinch - lol.
So, yes, I would definitely recommend this book. It's free with KU, and only $2.99 to buy.
My most favorite Christmas novel this year by far - lol.
10 CHRISTMAS ROMANCE NOVELS TO READ THIS YEAR
___________________________________
So this was a real gem of a book. A pleasant surprise in every way.
New author for me, and a word to mouth recommendation via IG. It was a delightful Christmas novel I didn't even know I needed until I read it. And of course some fantastic writing.
It ended up being a 5 star for the first half of the book, with funny and witty banter, an amazing couple, him grumpy, and her loving to push his buttons. I got major enemies to lovers vibes.
The second part of the novel was more like a 4 star for me. Some drama, a bit more serious undertones, and there were two situations I wasn't 100% in sync with. But otherwise this book was a HUGE success for me because I can't wait to read more by this author.
I think what I loved the most about this book was the fabulous writing. Especially the dialogues, and the heroine's snarky and witty attitude, and his grouchiness. He was such a Grinch - lol.
So, yes, I would definitely recommend this book. It's free with KU, and only $2.99 to buy.
My most favorite Christmas novel this year by far - lol.
November 21, 2022
will be filing an HR complaint. why are they acting like it's cute that she regularly bought things he didn't want for him on his credit card? like, ma'am, that's a federal offense.
cheese level: 🧀🧀🧀🧀🧀 (a one-third white cheddar, one-third yellow cheddar, and one-third grated American cheese grilled cheese)
cheese level: 🧀🧀🧀🧀🧀 (a one-third white cheddar, one-third yellow cheddar, and one-third grated American cheese grilled cheese)
December 14, 2020
olivia langley queen of my heart ❤️❤️❤️☺️
December 31, 2020
Fab festive Fran suggested read, she gives the best romcom recommendations - equal parts fun, flirty & fulfilling storytelling 🤩
Ok that's enough "F" alliteration for now 😅
I was a little apprehensive picking this up as I'm typically quite grinch'like when it comes to forced Christmas cheer/themed things but this was just the right read at the right time.
I wasn't sure if I'd warm to Olivia at first as she seemed a little caricature'y/naive but that was who she wanted us to see and as we got to know her she grew on me so much that I just wanted to wrap her in a hug and go to battle for her by the end. I loved so many of her friend group interactions and many of the back and forths with Asher, the repartee between so many of these characters had me giggling 🙃
The holiday themed list of activities at the start of the book left my cold grinch heart 😱 when I read it...how on earth do any of them have time to do any work with all those events scheduled throughout the month of December? I must never show those ideas to my boss - yikes that would be Xmas overkill for this grinch! 🙈
Wee Chloe completely won me over immediately on introduction and I was delighted by every scene she appeared in even if she seems a lot more observant & precocious than I'd have been as a 6yr old 😅 but that seems to be par for the course with kids in books 😉
I really enjoyed many of the other characters except for those we're obviously not supposed to warm to or side with. This book comes with a helpful content warning at the start (more authors should do this as not all blurbs share the relevant info) for sexual harassment which is hinted at throughout the start and comes more into focus in the second half of the book alongside other darker topics like grief which I feel weird saying I enjoyed, but I admire the way this was handled and the depths these topics brought to a read that otherwise could have gotten too light and fluffy given the festive feel - this read struck a very enjoyable balance & I really liked the NYC setting and felt it was more believable/less convenient than my previous NYC-based romcom read.
Curious to see what else this author chooses to release into the bookmosphere - am deffo interested in reading more 🤞👍
3.75*
Ok that's enough "F" alliteration for now 😅
I was a little apprehensive picking this up as I'm typically quite grinch'like when it comes to forced Christmas cheer/themed things but this was just the right read at the right time.
I wasn't sure if I'd warm to Olivia at first as she seemed a little caricature'y/naive but that was who she wanted us to see and as we got to know her she grew on me so much that I just wanted to wrap her in a hug and go to battle for her by the end. I loved so many of her friend group interactions and many of the back and forths with Asher, the repartee between so many of these characters had me giggling 🙃
The holiday themed list of activities at the start of the book left my cold grinch heart 😱 when I read it...how on earth do any of them have time to do any work with all those events scheduled throughout the month of December? I must never show those ideas to my boss - yikes that would be Xmas overkill for this grinch! 🙈
Wee Chloe completely won me over immediately on introduction and I was delighted by every scene she appeared in even if she seems a lot more observant & precocious than I'd have been as a 6yr old 😅 but that seems to be par for the course with kids in books 😉
I really enjoyed many of the other characters except for those we're obviously not supposed to warm to or side with. This book comes with a helpful content warning at the start (more authors should do this as not all blurbs share the relevant info) for sexual harassment which is hinted at throughout the start and comes more into focus in the second half of the book alongside other darker topics like grief which I feel weird saying I enjoyed, but I admire the way this was handled and the depths these topics brought to a read that otherwise could have gotten too light and fluffy given the festive feel - this read struck a very enjoyable balance & I really liked the NYC setting and felt it was more believable/less convenient than my previous NYC-based romcom read.
Curious to see what else this author chooses to release into the bookmosphere - am deffo interested in reading more 🤞👍
3.75*
December 28, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
Faking Under the Mistletoe by Ashley Shepherd is just the book I needed right now, both because I read it after a book I didn't love, and also because it is the perfect romcom worthy Christmas book!
Olivia is such a great character and I seriously loved her. This book is just begging to be on the Hallmark Channel and I really want it to get made into a movie! Faking Under the Mistletoe made me laugh so much, but it wasn't a shallow book and had a lot of depth plus a handful of moments that brought tears to my eyes. I haven't read a whole lot of romance, but I love when they read like a Hallmark movie like this one did.
Song/s the book brought to mind: Better Together by Jack Johnson
Final Thought: I surprisingly don't have a whole lot to say about Faking Under the Mistletoe, but I think it is best read for yourself. If you love witty, Christmassy novels that have just the tinniest bit of steam then I highly recommend checking this one out. It is the perfect book to get you into the holiday mood and it will make you laugh so hard you might embarrass yourself if you are in public. Shepherd also has a book coming out the beginning of 2020 that I am definitely going to be reading. I read this on Kindle Unlimited and it had an excerpt for the upcoming book which was really good. Bottom line though, read Faking Under the Mistletoe!
Faking Under the Mistletoe by Ashley Shepherd is just the book I needed right now, both because I read it after a book I didn't love, and also because it is the perfect romcom worthy Christmas book!
Olivia is such a great character and I seriously loved her. This book is just begging to be on the Hallmark Channel and I really want it to get made into a movie! Faking Under the Mistletoe made me laugh so much, but it wasn't a shallow book and had a lot of depth plus a handful of moments that brought tears to my eyes. I haven't read a whole lot of romance, but I love when they read like a Hallmark movie like this one did.
Song/s the book brought to mind: Better Together by Jack Johnson
Final Thought: I surprisingly don't have a whole lot to say about Faking Under the Mistletoe, but I think it is best read for yourself. If you love witty, Christmassy novels that have just the tinniest bit of steam then I highly recommend checking this one out. It is the perfect book to get you into the holiday mood and it will make you laugh so hard you might embarrass yourself if you are in public. Shepherd also has a book coming out the beginning of 2020 that I am definitely going to be reading. I read this on Kindle Unlimited and it had an excerpt for the upcoming book which was really good. Bottom line though, read Faking Under the Mistletoe!
December 23, 2022
I started this today and finished it today. I HAVENT DONE THIS IN A WHILEEEE OH MY. But you know what? This book was really entertaining, it kept my whole attention, I was so emotional for the characters, the plot, everything. This is what I was searching for after two meh books!!! I needed this type of emotion out of me from a romance book. And it didn't hurt that this is a holiday romance and two days before Christmas seems like the perfect time to read one.
If you love workplace romances, grumpy x sunshine (she's holiday cheer and he's the grumpiest grinch), sassy heroine who loves to bicker with the hero, you're going to love this book lots!!! Olivia was so easy to love and I felt so much for her. I just wanted her to find herself a tiny family to share the holidays with and I'm glad we saw such a development not only with the hero and his family, but also with her friends. At the beginning of the book she didn't talk with her roommate, but the story develops in a way where they now talk on the phone and they go out together. It's so nice to see Olivia get that found family because she deserves happiness, the world, everything.
TW for sexual abuse.
If you love workplace romances, grumpy x sunshine (she's holiday cheer and he's the grumpiest grinch), sassy heroine who loves to bicker with the hero, you're going to love this book lots!!! Olivia was so easy to love and I felt so much for her. I just wanted her to find herself a tiny family to share the holidays with and I'm glad we saw such a development not only with the hero and his family, but also with her friends. At the beginning of the book she didn't talk with her roommate, but the story develops in a way where they now talk on the phone and they go out together. It's so nice to see Olivia get that found family because she deserves happiness, the world, everything.
TW for sexual abuse.
December 30, 2021
This book was something else. I honestly don’t know where to start. Well, we can start with that hate crime of a cover. HONESTLY, WHAT IS THAT?
Moving on, the writing style was not for me. It actually gets better as the book goes on and gets you hooked but I still found it odd. The bickering between Olivia and Asher was amazing though. I don’t know how many times I literally laughed my ass off. Their bickering made me like them and actually ship them.
The general plot felt way too forced. There was literally no reason for them to start fake dating or attend all those events. Or do anything with each other really. If the plot flowed more naturally I’d get this ugly ass cover as a tattoo on my forehead to show my love. Seriously WHO DESIGNED THAT COVER? (You thought I was done hating on the cover? Think again. That cover will haunt me for the next eternity.)
But even after the forced plot and THAT cover, I still loved it. I finished it in one sitting. I just couldn’t get myself to stop even though it was 2 A.M. on a weekday. I loved their relationship dynamic and the whole Christmas atmosphere even though Asher was acting like a little bitch from time to time.
This part of my review will involve spoilers. (TW: SA)
---
I finished this goddamn book in one sitting. I am not okay and it is the middle of the night right now and I have to get to work in a few hours. RTC Tomorrow.
Moving on, the writing style was not for me. It actually gets better as the book goes on and gets you hooked but I still found it odd. The bickering between Olivia and Asher was amazing though. I don’t know how many times I literally laughed my ass off. Their bickering made me like them and actually ship them.
The general plot felt way too forced. There was literally no reason for them to start fake dating or attend all those events. Or do anything with each other really. If the plot flowed more naturally I’d get this ugly ass cover as a tattoo on my forehead to show my love. Seriously WHO DESIGNED THAT COVER? (You thought I was done hating on the cover? Think again. That cover will haunt me for the next eternity.)
But even after the forced plot and THAT cover, I still loved it. I finished it in one sitting. I just couldn’t get myself to stop even though it was 2 A.M. on a weekday. I loved their relationship dynamic and the whole Christmas atmosphere even though Asher was acting like a little bitch from time to time.
This part of my review will involve spoilers. (TW: SA)
---
I finished this goddamn book in one sitting. I am not okay and it is the middle of the night right now and I have to get to work in a few hours. RTC Tomorrow.
December 22, 2020
In typical Rom-Com fashion, we have a grumpy guy, Asher, and a kind joyful lovely gal, Olivia. Comedy ensues when Olivia pretends to be Asher's girlfriend in front of his ex. Asher wants no part of this plan, but the train has left the station, and he is on board for the duration, like it or not.
This book is a perfect Rom-Com. It has attraction, desire, tension and hilarity. In my opinion, many Rom-Coms don't get it right. They forget about the comedy, they miss character development or they gloss over the attraction and tension, but not this one. It checked all my boxes. Pure delightful light entertainment.
Thanks so much to Kim for that great recommendation. It was absolutely perfect for me and was just what I needed to really enjoy the week before Christmas.
This book is a perfect Rom-Com. It has attraction, desire, tension and hilarity. In my opinion, many Rom-Coms don't get it right. They forget about the comedy, they miss character development or they gloss over the attraction and tension, but not this one. It checked all my boxes. Pure delightful light entertainment.
Thanks so much to Kim for that great recommendation. It was absolutely perfect for me and was just what I needed to really enjoy the week before Christmas.
December 14, 2019
i think this is the CUTEST book i’ve ever read
December 8, 2019
Damn!!! This must be one of the best books I've read this year, I never realized how much I needed Olivia and Asher in my life until now especially Olivia, she's the mother I've never had, the sister everyone would want and the friend everybody deserves, I don't know a better person. You just have to read this book before 2019 it's over!!!!
December 21, 2021
this lorelai&luke dynamic was everything
December 24, 2020
Trigger warning: sexual assault
You guyssss, this book was such a good Christmas romance! I picked this up on a whim because I wanted to read something festive and it did not disappoint. It's an office romance with a fake relationship trope. Olivia's joy for everything relating to Christmas is what I live for, I could totally relate to that.
This novel also deals with serious topics, so please read the trigger warnings before going into it.
I really wish this book was longer, I would have gladly read more of Olivia and Asher's story!
You guyssss, this book was such a good Christmas romance! I picked this up on a whim because I wanted to read something festive and it did not disappoint. It's an office romance with a fake relationship trope. Olivia's joy for everything relating to Christmas is what I live for, I could totally relate to that.
This novel also deals with serious topics, so please read the trigger warnings before going into it.
I really wish this book was longer, I would have gladly read more of Olivia and Asher's story!
December 10, 2020
I loved that cover, and I thought it would also be an adorable romance of enemies to lovers, fake relationship, and all the cliché things that although I have read in other books, I thought I would enjoy and more if it had Christmas vibes.
The premise sounded good for me to like. A girl who loves Christmas and of course a boss who is a Grinch and hates it. They will pretend to be boyfriends to make their ex-girlfriend jealous and I think we already know a lot about what will happen next, lol.
But this was boring and bad. The heroine was so annoying, from almost the beginning you know that the heroine is in love with her boss. Why? because he is attractive, and i: girl, tell me something I don't know, lol. so when she has the chance to be his fake girlfriend, was constantly throwing himself at his boss, talking about parts of his body, what underwear he was wearing, etc. And it didn't help that this book was all written from her Pov, I also flipped through some chapters, when I got to the middle the story got worse, with a rape theme, it didn't go to extremes, but still it was wrong, it just ruined the book more, it was just filler and to make it longer.
I mean I thought this book was going to be fun, a romantic comedy, and it was just the opposite.
The premise sounded good for me to like. A girl who loves Christmas and of course a boss who is a Grinch and hates it. They will pretend to be boyfriends to make their ex-girlfriend jealous and I think we already know a lot about what will happen next, lol.
But this was boring and bad. The heroine was so annoying, from almost the beginning you know that the heroine is in love with her boss. Why? because he is attractive, and i: girl, tell me something I don't know, lol. so when she has the chance to be his fake girlfriend, was constantly throwing himself at his boss, talking about parts of his body, what underwear he was wearing, etc. And it didn't help that this book was all written from her Pov, I also flipped through some chapters, when I got to the middle the story got worse, with a rape theme, it didn't go to extremes, but still it was wrong, it just ruined the book more, it was just filler and to make it longer.
I mean I thought this book was going to be fun, a romantic comedy, and it was just the opposite.
December 13, 2019
This book has everything I want --> Fake dating, Christmas vibe, enemies to lovers and good chemistry between the couple! 🥰🎄💕
Perfect choice for the holiday season!
Perfect choice for the holiday season!
February 25, 2020
how am i supposed to live without knowing what olivia and asher do on a daily basis huh
December 12, 2019
If you're looking for a light holiday read, this book....may not be it. The first half reads that way (and if you can get past the fact that Olivia continuously behaves inappropriately with her boss and he actively seems to dislike her and her behavior, you may enjoy it), but then the second half becomes kind of angsty and all about sexual assault and harassment (which is ironic since Olivia practically sexually harasses her boss in the first half). So this was kind of uneven, and it didn't help that Olivia and Asher were just not a great couple. I love a good enemies to lovers trope, but this just didn't work as that.
December 19, 2019
↠ ★★★★ / out of five
this was so cute and funny and felt like a nice cup of hot chocolate on a cold day.
fake dating is one of my FAVOURITE tropes and i love how it is done in this book! it all felt very straightforward, which you don't really see in romance novels, but absolutely fit with the characters of olivia and asher in this book. my GOD was olivia so much fun to read - witty, passionate, unafraid to take a stand. i loved her
i was also very pleasantly surprised by the way sexual assault was handled in this book, again a topic most fluffy romance books tend to stay away from. olivia's convictions were inspiring and throughout the book the survivors of sexual assault were front and center of the conversations and i really appreciated that in what was otherwise a very light, jolly, cosy christmas book!
December 17, 2021
god i love this book so much
September 2, 2021
I definitely wouldn't have read this outside the holiday season had not my KU trial been tick tocking down to its final hours but.. this was pretty cute. Definitely sometimes a little.. extra. And with an unexpectedly serious late-game plotline. And some sadness. But overall festive and fun.
November 12, 2021
I knew this was a beloved romance, but I was still completely surprised by how wonderful it truly was. With a blend of a workplace relationship, a fake dating arrangement, and a grumpy versus sunshine dynamic, this was a goldmine of tropes. And of course, it's all set around the holiday season! Perfection.
Asher McGowan is the grumpiest of grumps, living life in a constant bad mood. Social Media Intern Olivia Langley was the perfect contrast to his particular and closed-off personality. Overly chatty, confident, and passionate for Christmas, I absolutely adored her. Their banter was exactly what I look for—a perfect mix of humour and the ability to make me swoon.
This was a cheerful story but also incorporates discussions of misogyny and the takedown of a sexual predator in the workplace. I really enjoyed how it was incorporated in the story. And I can't express how refreshing it was to include an ex-girlfriend that wasn't a stereotypical mean girl. A must read for the holiday season!
Asher McGowan is the grumpiest of grumps, living life in a constant bad mood. Social Media Intern Olivia Langley was the perfect contrast to his particular and closed-off personality. Overly chatty, confident, and passionate for Christmas, I absolutely adored her. Their banter was exactly what I look for—a perfect mix of humour and the ability to make me swoon.
This was a cheerful story but also incorporates discussions of misogyny and the takedown of a sexual predator in the workplace. I really enjoyed how it was incorporated in the story. And I can't express how refreshing it was to include an ex-girlfriend that wasn't a stereotypical mean girl. A must read for the holiday season!
December 10, 2019
I stayed up all night to finish this book. Seriously. I read until 2:30 ... and I have to wake up every day at 4:30!!! I haven't stayed up to read a book in ages, so I have to give this five stars. I really, really enjoyed it. Even though there may be some issues with the story I just got immersed in the plot and the characters, and I didn't want to put the book down until I saw the beginnings of a happily ever after.
This book began with almost a holiday rom-com feel and then half-way through the book the tone changes dramatically. So dramatically. At first this is a cute little holiday story about Olivia, an eternally optimistic intern at a publicist company, who is spreading all sorts of Christmas cheer throughout her office as she plans daily holiday themed employee events leading up to Christmas. Her constant nemesis is her boss, Asher, a super demanding man with uber-specific tastes and a constant scowl on his face. Olivia will not back down in the face of his grouchiness. She throws every bit of her Christmas joy at him, and never seems daunted by his eye rolls or his frowns. It's cute and sweet. Things change when she decides to help him out by kissing him passionately in front of his beautiful ex-girlfriend so that she thinks he has happily moved on to another love, and as tends to happen in these sorts of stories, their fake relationship starts to feel less and less fake as they spend time together. Up to this point this book feels like lots of others. So many other rom-coms out there.
But then things change in a big way. Suddenly this book becomes a book dealing with sexual harassment and attempted sexual assault. It becomes a story of NDAs and lawyers and the injustice that occurs when perpetrators are wealthy or famous. It turns a bit darker. I hesitate to call it dark, because I never felt completely weighed down by the plot, but this did not end up being a light and fluffy holiday read. It was deeper and sometimes difficult to read. Some readers might find it a bit jarring to have the tone of a story change so dramatically, but I didn't. I stuck with it to the end, and I loved it.
Some thoughts:
Workplace romances are common. Even forbidden workplace romances are somewhat popular. I never really felt icky about the situation in this story at all, but the reality is that this is a story about a relationship between a boss and an intern. There is a huge difference of power in this relationship. Olivia is desperate to get a job after this internship. Asher holds a key to making that happen. There are all sorts of ethical dilemmas that come about because of this, and they aren't really addressed in this story. I didn't really think much about it as I read, but there might be some readers who do. I think that the romance worked in this story because Olivia was so confident in her relationship with Asher. I never felt like he was manipulating or harassing her. It is a little strange that a boss and an intern would call each other by nicknames. Asher calls Olivia 'O', and she calls him 'Ash' even before they begin a romantic relationship. Seems a little familiar to me, especially since she supposedly drives him crazy with her happiness and optimism.
Asher is REALLY grouchy and somewhat cold for a good portion of this book. He doesn't really thaw out much at all. There are just enough glimpses of the sweet and kind man underneath his cold exterior to keep him interesting and likable. Some readers might not have patience for his coldness, though. I didn't mind. I loved seeing Olivia bring out his smiles, and in the end I loved discovering the wonderful man beneath the hard exterior.
Olivia was a gem! I really loved her as the main character in this story. She was bright and loving and optimistic through most of it. Even when everything goes south for a bit, she doesn't totally lose that light that makes her such a great female lead for this story. She definitely carries this story and kept me reading to the end. I loved how she put all this effort into everything she did and kept going, even when no one showed up or recognized all she did. Loved her!
When the tone of the book changes at first it begins with a misunderstanding that leads to the end of what looked like a promising and beautiful relationship. Asher blows up. In a lot of books I read where this happens I get REALLY irritated with the characters for not taking two seconds to talk to each other and clear up the misunderstanding. A simple conversation would solve everything. HEA reached. But in this story it actually worked out in such a way that I really could understand Asher's reaction. I wasn't irritated with it at all. It just seemed tragic. But the real tragedy occurs because while Asher has cut Olivia off she falls into a situation where she REALLY needed him, and he was not there. That's when things get really messy in this relationship, almost to the point where it cannot be repaired. It was hard to read this. I wanted everyone to just hug and be over it, but the nature of the event was not something that could just be quickly forgotten. Asher and Olivia had some work to do. And this work is a two steps forward, one step back sort of work. It takes time.
I don't know what it was about this story that kept me captivated, but I really could not put it down. It started out like a typical holiday romance book and then morphed into something a bit gripping and fulfilling in the end. I'm glad I grabbed it this Christmas season. I'll probably pick it up and read it again someday. Five stars. It was amazing!
This book began with almost a holiday rom-com feel and then half-way through the book the tone changes dramatically. So dramatically. At first this is a cute little holiday story about Olivia, an eternally optimistic intern at a publicist company, who is spreading all sorts of Christmas cheer throughout her office as she plans daily holiday themed employee events leading up to Christmas. Her constant nemesis is her boss, Asher, a super demanding man with uber-specific tastes and a constant scowl on his face. Olivia will not back down in the face of his grouchiness. She throws every bit of her Christmas joy at him, and never seems daunted by his eye rolls or his frowns. It's cute and sweet. Things change when she decides to help him out by kissing him passionately in front of his beautiful ex-girlfriend so that she thinks he has happily moved on to another love, and as tends to happen in these sorts of stories, their fake relationship starts to feel less and less fake as they spend time together. Up to this point this book feels like lots of others. So many other rom-coms out there.
But then things change in a big way. Suddenly this book becomes a book dealing with sexual harassment and attempted sexual assault. It becomes a story of NDAs and lawyers and the injustice that occurs when perpetrators are wealthy or famous. It turns a bit darker. I hesitate to call it dark, because I never felt completely weighed down by the plot, but this did not end up being a light and fluffy holiday read. It was deeper and sometimes difficult to read. Some readers might find it a bit jarring to have the tone of a story change so dramatically, but I didn't. I stuck with it to the end, and I loved it.
Some thoughts:
Workplace romances are common. Even forbidden workplace romances are somewhat popular. I never really felt icky about the situation in this story at all, but the reality is that this is a story about a relationship between a boss and an intern. There is a huge difference of power in this relationship. Olivia is desperate to get a job after this internship. Asher holds a key to making that happen. There are all sorts of ethical dilemmas that come about because of this, and they aren't really addressed in this story. I didn't really think much about it as I read, but there might be some readers who do. I think that the romance worked in this story because Olivia was so confident in her relationship with Asher. I never felt like he was manipulating or harassing her. It is a little strange that a boss and an intern would call each other by nicknames. Asher calls Olivia 'O', and she calls him 'Ash' even before they begin a romantic relationship. Seems a little familiar to me, especially since she supposedly drives him crazy with her happiness and optimism.
Asher is REALLY grouchy and somewhat cold for a good portion of this book. He doesn't really thaw out much at all. There are just enough glimpses of the sweet and kind man underneath his cold exterior to keep him interesting and likable. Some readers might not have patience for his coldness, though. I didn't mind. I loved seeing Olivia bring out his smiles, and in the end I loved discovering the wonderful man beneath the hard exterior.
Olivia was a gem! I really loved her as the main character in this story. She was bright and loving and optimistic through most of it. Even when everything goes south for a bit, she doesn't totally lose that light that makes her such a great female lead for this story. She definitely carries this story and kept me reading to the end. I loved how she put all this effort into everything she did and kept going, even when no one showed up or recognized all she did. Loved her!
When the tone of the book changes at first it begins with a misunderstanding that leads to the end of what looked like a promising and beautiful relationship. Asher blows up. In a lot of books I read where this happens I get REALLY irritated with the characters for not taking two seconds to talk to each other and clear up the misunderstanding. A simple conversation would solve everything. HEA reached. But in this story it actually worked out in such a way that I really could understand Asher's reaction. I wasn't irritated with it at all. It just seemed tragic. But the real tragedy occurs because while Asher has cut Olivia off she falls into a situation where she REALLY needed him, and he was not there. That's when things get really messy in this relationship, almost to the point where it cannot be repaired. It was hard to read this. I wanted everyone to just hug and be over it, but the nature of the event was not something that could just be quickly forgotten. Asher and Olivia had some work to do. And this work is a two steps forward, one step back sort of work. It takes time.
I don't know what it was about this story that kept me captivated, but I really could not put it down. It started out like a typical holiday romance book and then morphed into something a bit gripping and fulfilling in the end. I'm glad I grabbed it this Christmas season. I'll probably pick it up and read it again someday. Five stars. It was amazing!
December 29, 2019
4.5
This book was...everything I was looking for in the moment. It has a sweet, funny romance, a hero and heroine that I won't soon be forgetting, side characters and friendships that snuck up on me (So many strong female characters aaaaah. I would love to see more of Joey!!!!!) and the plot went somewhere I didn't expect it to go. But the best part of this book for me was, without a doubt, Olivia freaking Langley. She...she is so. freaking. weird - but in the best way possible. She was just amazing and I was so ready for her to get her happy ending. To close off this mini review, I'll leave one of the reasons I fell in love with Olivia.
Apparently not many of my friends have read this one so I'm here to say- guys!!!! please check this book out- it's awesome :')
This book was...everything I was looking for in the moment. It has a sweet, funny romance, a hero and heroine that I won't soon be forgetting, side characters and friendships that snuck up on me (So many strong female characters aaaaah. I would love to see more of Joey!!!!!) and the plot went somewhere I didn't expect it to go. But the best part of this book for me was, without a doubt, Olivia freaking Langley. She...she is so. freaking. weird - but in the best way possible. She was just amazing and I was so ready for her to get her happy ending. To close off this mini review, I'll leave one of the reasons I fell in love with Olivia.
Today, I'd rather jump in front of a train.
Not a moving one.
One that's idling.
Something to traumatize me-and probably a platform full of people- into realizing that these are outrageous and irrational thoughts to be having over the actions of a man.
Men have been disappointing women for centuries.
And if I'm going to throw myself in front of a train, it's not going to be because of a man.
It'll be because the government found my blog about the extraterrestrials.
Apparently not many of my friends have read this one so I'm here to say- guys!!!! please check this book out- it's awesome :')
December 5, 2020
I started this book because I needed to read something that would make me smile and ended up not being able to put the book down until I was done. it was soft, it was ridiculously cheesy and full of those christmas movies' tropes you say you hate but deep down love, and it was exactly what I needed. I loved Olivia, I loved Asher, I loved the way this book showed female friendship and handled about sexual assault. my only complaint if I can really call it that, is that I'd have loved to get a dual pov, because I would have wanted to see how Asher reacted to certain scenes, but otherwise that's it. such a lovely, lovely read! (4.5)
March 17, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up.
December 24, 2020
Actual rating 3.65 stars.
I liked the overall story well enough. The hate banter between Olivia and Asher was great. And it was smooth when the banter slowly turned into something more teasing.
I enjoyed the fact that it wasn’t just a story about a couple getting together. There were serious topics woven into this story that made it feel real.
I wasn’t too sure how I felt about Olivia falling for her boss, Asher. I will say, she did initiate it. Even when he was really rude to her. And insulted her often.
Sure, he didn’t really mean those things but still, you should only take so much crap from someone.
There was a shift in Asher’s character after everything that happened which I appreciated.
I LOVED the body positive attitude of Olivia. She had curves and she didn’t hate her body! That is something more girls should have the opportunity to read about.
Will I ever read this story again? Maybe. There are certain things that I wouldn’t want to read again and will most likely skip if I ever do.
I liked the overall story well enough. The hate banter between Olivia and Asher was great. And it was smooth when the banter slowly turned into something more teasing.
I enjoyed the fact that it wasn’t just a story about a couple getting together. There were serious topics woven into this story that made it feel real.
I wasn’t too sure how I felt about Olivia falling for her boss, Asher. I will say, she did initiate it. Even when he was really rude to her. And insulted her often.
Sure, he didn’t really mean those things but still, you should only take so much crap from someone.
There was a shift in Asher’s character after everything that happened which I appreciated.
I LOVED the body positive attitude of Olivia. She had curves and she didn’t hate her body! That is something more girls should have the opportunity to read about.
Will I ever read this story again? Maybe. There are certain things that I wouldn’t want to read again and will most likely skip if I ever do.
December 12, 2025
The fifty percent of the novel is nice but that's just it.
Things I liked:
⭐I loved the grumpy/sunshine trope at the start of the novel.
⭐All the Christmas food and the setting of the holidays.
Things I didn't like:
1. I think the relationship between the leads was not quite organic. And, just after a kiss, things advanced quite early on.
2. Olivia was quite fixated on her boobs. Yes, Asher likes them!
3. All the charm and the fun is at the start of the novel. The second half looks like it is written by some other person. I don't have a problem with adding something serious in a Christmas rom-com, but the timing/placing was not right.
Things I liked:
⭐I loved the grumpy/sunshine trope at the start of the novel.
⭐All the Christmas food and the setting of the holidays.
Things I didn't like:
1. I think the relationship between the leads was not quite organic. And, just after a kiss, things advanced quite early on.
2. Olivia was quite fixated on her boobs. Yes, Asher likes them!
3. All the charm and the fun is at the start of the novel. The second half looks like it is written by some other person. I don't have a problem with adding something serious in a Christmas rom-com, but the timing/placing was not right.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,756 reviews